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Is Brazil preparing itself to break off its ties with Israel? Israel slams “diplomatic dwarf'” Brazil for recalling envoy to protest Israeli anti-terrorist operation By Jerusalem Post e Julio Severo The Brazilian socialist government on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations in protest over the IDF’s (Israel Defense Force) operation against the Islamic terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A statement put out by the Brazilian foreign ministry said that Brazil considers “escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine” as unacceptable. “We strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force by Israel in the Gaza Strip.” The...

Navi Pillay said Tel Aviv's two-week onslaught on Gaza - which has cost more than 650 Palestinians lives - would be thoroughly investigated. Ms Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the attacks have destroyed houses and hospitals and killed civilians. "These are just a few examples where there seems to be a strong possibility that international humanitarian law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes. "Every one of these incidents must be properly and independently investigated." According to Gaza officials, 475 houses have been destroyed and 2,644 damaged, while 46 schools, 56 mosques...

GENEVA, July 23 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Wednesday launched an international inquiry into human rights violations and crimes that may have been committed by Israel during its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned the Israeli assault which it said had involved "disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks", including aerial bombing of civilian areas, collective punishment, and the killing of more than 650 Palestinians. At the end of an emergency session, the 47-member forum adopted a resolution presented by Palestinians by a vote of 29 states in favor, 1 against (the United States) with 17...

Bangor Daily News Quebec man arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle wife into US near JackmanBy Dawn Gagnon, BDN Staff Posted July 21, 2014, at 8:14 p.m. BANGOR, Maine — A Quebec man who was arrested last week after allegedly attempting to smuggle his wife into the country made his initial court appearance Monday at U.S. District Court in Bangor. Pierre Poulin, 40, of St. Martin, Quebec, is charged with encouraging and inducing illegal entry into the U.S., a federal offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He is being held...

Asserting that India's policy on Palestine issue remains unchanged, government on Monday refused to take sides over the Gaza conflict as it said Israel and Palestine should have peace talks and forestalled a resolution in Rajya Sabha which was demanded by the opposition. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said the House should not be divided but send out a joint message that wherever there is violence, it is condemnable and both Israel and Palestine should accept Egypt's offer of peace talks. She was replying to a short-duration debate on Gaza situation during which opposition condemned the violence in Gaza, pressed...

To observe the decades-long paralysis of America's political elite in controlling her borders calls to mind the insight of James Burnham in 1964 -- "Liberalism is the ideology of Western suicide." What the ex-Trotskyite turned Cold Warrior meant was that by faithfully following the tenets of liberalism, the West would embrace suicidal policies that would bring about the death of her civilization. The crisis on our Southern border, where the left, and not only the left, is wailing that we cannot turn away desperate people fleeing wicked regimes and remain true to our liberal values, is a case in...

Brazilians bitter about their team's disastrous World Cup celebrated Argentina's defeat to Germany in the final Sunday by dancing and launching fireworks, relieved that their arch-rivals failed to triumph on their soil. In Brasilia and Sao Paulo, fireworks exploded after Mario Goetze scored in extra-time to give the Germans a last-gasp victory at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium. At a bar near the stadium, Brazilians chanted "Cry! Cry! Argentina!" in a nod to the song "Don't cry for me Argentina."

Sergey Glaziev the head of the Russian central bank in her discussion with Vladimir Putin, unveiled an elegant technical solution for this problem and left a clear hint regarding the members of the anti-dollar alliance that is being created by the efforts of Moscow and Beijing. On June 10th, Sergey Glaziev, Putin's economy advisor published an article outlining the need to establish an international alliance of countries willing to get rid of the dollar in international trade and refrain from using dollars in their currency reserves. The ultimate goal would be to break the Washington's money printing machine that is...

Host nation Brazil’s miserable run of form at the World Cup continued with a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff in Brasília on Saturday afternoon. Any hopes of Brazil saving face at its own party evaporated within two minutes, when Thiago Silva pulled down Arjen Robben on the edge of the area. Silva, who missed the 7-1 semifinal rout against Germany through suspension and was supposed to bring stability to a shaky Brazilian backline, was lucky only to receive a yellow card for the foul. Robin van Persie made no mistake with the penalty, firing his spot...

Runner Up Game at 4:00 PM on ESPN. Brazil vs Netherlands. Brazil needs to redeem itself from humiliation at the hands of Germany in Tuesday's semi-final.

Life is a challenge these days in Germany if you are not a football fan. You simply cannot avoid it. The media is awash with interest in Sunday's World Cup final, with the 'Nationalelf' (national 11) involved against old rivals Argentina. The stunning 7-1 semi-final win over hosts Brazil resulted in football euphoria only seen before in the country when West Germany won previous World Cup tournaments in 1954, 1974 and 1990. "Three days to go", "two days to go", "one day to go" - these have been the headlines from Germany's biggest selling tabloid Bild. It's the countdown to...

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on the eve of a trip to Latin America, said Brazil and other emerging powers must play a greater role in world affairs, suggesting they could do more to counter U.S. influence. In an interview published on Friday, Putin framed his tour of Brazil, Cuba and Argentina as part of an effort to build a multi-polar world at a time when he is isolated by sanctions over Ukraine and his relations with the West are at their frostiest since the Cold War. Russia sees strong relations with Brazil as "strategically important" in opposing...

While the world’s eyes remain riveted on Brazil’s World Cup stadiums, most people aren’t aware that the country is also the home to one of the world’s most progressive reparations movements to repay Afro-Brazilians for their enslavement. Slavery in Brazil didn’t end until 1889, making Brazil the last nation in the Western Hemisphere to outlaw the institution, and the legacy of slavery has firmly ensconced Black Brazilians in the lower rungs of Brazilian society. “By and large, black Brazilians live in the worst housing and attend the poorest schools,” writes Roque Planas in a comprehensive two-part series for the Huffington...

It was a matter of minutes before the internet was overloaded with viral images mocking Brazil for their 7-1 defeat by Germany. Christ the Redeemer, the iconic statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, is normally seen as an image of hope - but the famous landmark was quickly photo-shopped at the expense of the defeated host nation, following their semi-final humiliation. Here are some of the best images from across the web...

The morning after the night before, Brazil will wake up, shake its head and pray it had all been a terrible nightmare. Left disorientated, punch drunk and confused by the 7-1 annihilation in the Estádio Mineirão it will take time for the full implications to sink in for a country that had so much invested – in all senses of the word – in World Cup success. The newspapers, broadcasters and websites that had spent the last few days whipping up a sentimental tidal wave of sympathy for Neymar turned on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men. David Luiz, the capering heartbeat...

Luiz Felipe Scolari apologised to the people of Brazil after they were humiliated 7-1 in the World Cup semi-final by Germany. SNIP Scolari, who insists he will not resign after this shameful defeat, said: ‘My message is, to the Brazilian people and fans, that we did and we tried to do what we could. ‘Please excuse us for this mistake. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to the final. This is a catastrophe. ‘It’s probably the worst moment of my career. This is the worst day of my life, but life goes on. ‘I’ll be remembered probably because I lost 7-1,...

Germany routed Brazil 7-1 today to reach the World Cup final, handing them its worst loss ever and breaking the hearts of millions of Brazilians. Brazil played without its injured striker Neymar, who had suffered a fractured vertebra in his lower back last Friday during its quarterfinal clash against Colombia.

Voodoo dolls of Colombian star James Rodriguez, candles in Brazil colours and prayers to deities, Neymar and co are getting full support from the World Cup hosts' Afro-Brazilian religions. Before every game, Helio Sillman lights four yellow, green and blue candles in the colours of the national flag and places them in a rectangular box representing a football pitch. He places dolls inside and sends them "strength and energy," with the help of Orixas, the gods of Macumba and other religions that mix Roman Catholic and African beliefs.

Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup after Brazil's team doctor confirmed he suffered a broken vertebra late in Friday's quarterfinal victory against Colombia.

Members of an Indian tribe that has long lived in voluntary isolation in Peru’s south-eastern Amazon have attempted to make contact with outsiders in a tense encounter that almost ended in violence.More than 100 members of Mashco-Piro clan appeared across the Las Piedras river from the remote community of Monte Salvado in the Tambopata region of Madre de Dios state in June. They asked for bananas, rope and machetes from the local Yine people but were stopped from crossing the river by rangers posted at the settlement who directed them to a banana patch on their side of the river....